Sales 101: Go From Beginner to Pro With These Strategies

Download Now: Free Sales Plan Template
Jay Fuchs
Jay Fuchs

Published:

Welcome to HubSpot's Sales 101 — a crash course on some of the key concepts, tools, and tactics you, a new or aspiring sales rep, should have a grip on as you get your career off the ground.

Sales is, at its core, a fundamentally technical practice that's guided by finesse and creativity. So while your success in the field will ultimately be self-driven, there are some universally applicable elements that should inform how you conduct your efforts.

salespeople taking the sales 101 course

So, as your new professor, I‘ve detailed some of the field’s need-to-know's and compiled some expert insight on the skills and techniques that you should fold into your sales repertoire.

Free Download: Sales Plan Template

Table of Contents

Sales Training 101

Before we dig in, I'm going to assign you a little required reading to acquaint you with some sales concepts you should know, going into your new role.

Now that we have the resources that cover those concepts out of the way, I can give you my quasi-inspirational, “first day of school” spiel. Let's go.

Class, I can‘t stand here and say I have the recipe for thriving in sales. There’s no magical, one-size-fits-all reference point for people starting out in the field. As much as I would like to sit here and say, "Welcome to Sales 101: THE definitive guide for how to get off the ground in sales!" I really can't.

You‘re going to bring a unique perspective, series of professional and life experiences, and skill set to your career in sales that will dictate what’s going to come to you naturally and what you might struggle with.

Still, as I mentioned in the intro, there are some key trends, tactics, and tendencies you should have a pulse on — and when I was putting this article together, I felt that those should come from real sales leaders.

So, we tapped some experts in our network and asked them, “What are some things you wish you'd known before getting into sales?” Here's what they had to say.

Free Sales Plan Template

Outline your company's sales strategy in one simple, coherent sales plan.

  • Target Market
  • Prospecting Strategy
  • Budget
  • Goals
Learn more

    Download Free

    All fields are required.

    You're all set!

    Click this link to access this resource at any time.

    Sales Techniques for Beginners

    1. Value active listening.

    Matt Bigach, Co-Founder of Leadmate, says, "Before venturing into sales, I wish I had understood the transforming impact of active listening. It is not enough to simply pitch a product; you must also grasp the client's needs, pain points, and objectives.

    “This competence increases trust, identifies opportunities, and tailors solutions more effectively. Active listening elevates sales discussions from transactional to relational, increasing success and long-term partnerships. Prioritizing this ability early on would have hastened my progress toward being a more effective sales leader.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Matt Bigach Co-Founder of Leadmate

    2. Be ready to handle both highs and lows emotionally.

    Scott Gabdullin, CEO & Founder of Learo, says, "[Sales] can be very emotionally draining. You'll have amazing highs where everything seems to click, but those are often followed by lows that can really test you.

    “Don't be fooled by the flashy lifestyles some salespeople portray. Success in sales is built on hard work, not luck. It takes dedication, sacrifice, and a thick skin. There are no shortcuts. Everyone who's made it has put in the hours and dealt with their fair share of rejection.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Scott Gabdullin CEO and Founder of Learo

    3. Connect beyond transactions.

    Samantha Easton, CEO of Blue Diamond Sales & Rentals, Inc., says, “I wish I'd known that building relationships is just as important as closing deals. When I first got into sales, I was all about hitting numbers and making the next sale, but I soon realized that long-term success comes from genuinely connecting with clients and understanding their needs. It's not just about the transaction; it's about the trust and loyalty you build over time. That approach has made all the difference in growing my property-management company.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Samantha Easton CEO of Blue Diamond Sales and Rentals Inc

    4. Track wins regularly.

    Trevor Covert, Director of Sales at Media Intercept, says, “I wish I'd known about keeping close tabs on all of my wins and accomplishments. While it's possible to go back and try to piece together all of the contracts, clients, and relationships, it would have saved a lot of time if I just took 5-10 minutes on Fridays to summarize the wins for the week to make it easier to highlight them.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Trevor Covert Director of Sales at Media Intercept

    5. Learn to accept rejection as part of the game.

    Brandon Batchelor, Head of North American Sales & Strategic Partnerships at ReadyCloud, says, “Rejection is part of the game, and it's not personal. Early in my career, I took every ”no“ to heart. It took time to realize that rejection is simply part of the sales process, and it doesn't reflect on my abilities or worth.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Brandon Batchelor Head of North American Sales and Strategic Partnerships at ReadyCloud

    6. Understand that relationships drive sales.

    Andy Cloyd, CEO of Superfiliate, says, “I wish I realized how relationship-driven it was. People buy from people, but also people buy people. How that customer feels signing off the meeting is everything. While, of course, you want that delight to be driven by seeing a product that will make their lives easier and help them achieve their goals, don't underestimate having them walk away feeling good about the person they just spoke with!”

    a sales 101 lesson from Andy Cloyd CEO of Superfiliate

    7. Develop emotional intelligence.

    Vaibhav Namburi, Founder of Smartlead.ai, says, “As a sales leader, I wish I had known that success in sales goes far beyond just closing deals. I would have focused more on developing my emotional intelligence and relationship-building skills from the start. I underestimated the importance of truly understanding client needs and providing value, rather than just pushing products.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Vaibhav Namburi Founder of Smartlead.ai

    8. Trust the learning process.

    Jasper Knight, Founder of Secret Saunas, says, “Sales is a roller-coaster. It's easy to get discouraged when you're starting out, but remember, everyone's been there. Leave your ego at the door and be open to learning. Embrace the fact that you're starting from scratch and be eager to soak up knowledge. Every salesperson has a unique style, so discover yours and own it. Most importantly, trust the process and keep pushing forward.”

    a sales 101 lesson from Jasper Knight Founder of Secret Saunas

    Class, I said it earlier, and I‘ll say it again: Sales is a fundamentally technical practice that’s guided by finesse and creativity — and the best thing you can do early in your career is acquaint yourself with those “technical fundamentals.”

    Master the basic points we addressed in this crash course. From there, you can lean into your motivation, demonstrate your resiliency, and flex your personality to take your career to the next level.

    Free Sales Plan Template

    Outline your company's sales strategy in one simple, coherent sales plan.

    • Target Market
    • Prospecting Strategy
    • Budget
    • Goals
    Learn more

      Download Free

      All fields are required.

      You're all set!

      Click this link to access this resource at any time.

      Topics: Sales Strategy

      Related Articles

      Outline your company's sales strategy in one simple, coherent plan.

        Powerful and easy-to-use sales software that drives productivity, enables customer connection, and supports growing sales orgs

        START FREE OR GET A DEMO